The Mets' winter has been quiet but their spring training promises to be busy. Two of their hotter issues are at center field and second base. A club official and NL scout said Monday morning they expect the issues to shake out like this:

Carlos Beltran will play right field. New manager Terry Collins has said all the right things about the possibility of moving Beltran out of center, and you can look for Beltran to play some center in the early exhibitions. But he's 33 and unlikely to regain all the grace and mobility he displayed before his right knee started giving out.

"Beltran used to be a premier defender," an NL scout says, "But at this point, Pagan is better defensively. Pagan is a very good center fielder."

Luis Castillo won't be at second base. Yes, this will be an open competition. And no, it won't be decided by who has the biggest contract. In fact, the Mets could be more inclined to eat the $6 million owed to Castillo to prove to fans that the new regime will not be afraid to make bold moves. Castillo enters spring with plenty of competition, including Daniel Murphy, Rule 5 pick Brad Emaus and young Justin Turner.

Murphy is the most accomplished hitter of the group but his defense also is shaky and he played only 11 games last season, all in the minors, after suffering a knee injury. Turner, 26, was let go by the Orioles last season and picked up by the Mets. He hit at least .300 in each of his past two seasons at Class AAA. Emaus, 24, was taken from J.P. Ricciardi's old club, the Blue Jays. He is a tough out (more walks than strikeouts at Class AA and AAA last year) but his defense is a question. Think Dan Uggla lite.